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Undergraduate Research

Conduct Research. Make Discoveries. Build Real World Experience. 

At Colorado School of Mines, hands-on research opportunities begin as early as your first semester.

Through Mines' undergraduate research programs, you'll work directly with faculty mentors at the forefront of their fields on real-world scientific and engineering challenges. Undergraduate research gives you the chance to move beyond what is already known and contribute to new discoveries immediately. Build on concepts from your own coursework, explore industrial-scale energy systems, develop materials of the future or work with critical minerals and supply chains. 

Choose from fellowships, work-study opportunities and academic credit experiences to help you develop professional skills and gain real experience that prepares you for what's next. 

Opportunities for Every Stage of Your Journey

Mines offers multiple pathways to undergraduate research from your first year to your last. Opportunities for undergraduate research span a wide range of disciplines and interests with about 150 faculty mentors supporting students every year.

First-Year Research
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First-Year Research

First-Year Innovation & Research Scholar Training (FIRST)

Start your research journey early through guided research experiences designed specifically for first-year students. 

Learn About FIRST
Undergraduate Fellowship
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Undergraduate Fellowship

Mines Undergraduate Research Fellowship (MURF)

Work with faculty mentors on research projects while receiving support to explore your interests and develop research skills. 

Learn About MURF
Summer Fellowship
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Summer Fellowship

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

Take advantage of your summer break to focus on immersive research that deepens your expertise and professional portfolio. 

Learn About SURF
Multidisciplinary Projects
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Multidisciplinary Projects

Vertically Integrated Projects for Experiential Research (VIPER)

Join long-term, multidisciplinary research teams that bring together undergraduate students, graduate students and faculty around ambitious research challenges. 

Learn About VIPER
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The Power of Undergraduate Research 

“MURF was the first opportunity that I had to step into a lab and explore what it means to be a researcher. It provided me with the resources and platform to establish myself as a scientist and gain independence as a undergraduate researcher. This experience has prepared me to explore my first independent project and have the skills to stand out for graduate school.” 

- MURF Participant 2025-2026

Research Without Boundaries

The world's biggest challenges don't fit within a single discipline, and neither does research at Mines. 

As an R1 research university, Mines brings together experts across science and engineering to advance discoveries in areas from energy and critical materials to Earth systems, quantum engineering and emerging technologies. This collaborative environment gives you direct exposure to research both within and beyond your major. 

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Research Areas
  • Advanced energy systems 
  • Critical materials and supply chains
  • Manufacturing materials of the future
  • Earth and environmental systems
  • Space and emerging technologies
  • Data science and artificial intelligence
  • Materials science and engineering
  • Biology, chemistry and health-related research 
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Mines Undergraduate Research Symposium

“The Mines Undergraduate Research Symposium gave me the opportunity to practice my communication skills and learn how to talk about my research effectively to people from a wide variety of fields. Being a part of the symposium was a really amazing experience, and I’m looking forward to the next one!” 

Learn More About the Symposium

- Amit Sela '25

Female student presents her research presentation to a group, actively discussing ideas as the audience engages Opportunities That Open Doors for You

The undergraduate research you do at Mines leads to opportunities far beyond campus while building skills that prepare you for graduate study and in-demand careers.   

Undergraduate research can give you the chance to:

  • Present at regional, national and international conferences
    Destinations have ranged from Washington D.C. to Honolulu and Edinburgh, Scotland.

  • Publish research with faculty mentors
    Earn authorship on research papers alongside Mines faculty and research teams.

  • Earn competitive scholarships and fellowships
    Build experience and credentials to compete for prestigious awards and fellowships. 

Student Stories & Research Highlights

See how Mines undergraduate students use research to solve problems, explore new ideas and achieve more.

Caitlyn Castellion works on a lab experiment in a white lab coat and safety glasses

FIRST program gives first-year students direct research experience

The FIRST program gives first-year students hands-on research experience and faculty mentorship. For Marco Salgado, it helped turn uncertainty about his future into a clearer sense of direction.

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Anna Williams

Geophysics Student Awarded Prestigious Goldwater Scholarship

Mines student Anna Williams was named a Goldwater Scholar, joining 454 recipients chosen from 1,485 STEM students nominated annually across the country. 

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Six headshots of Mines students and alumni who won NSF GRF

13 Mines Students and Alumni Win NSF Graduate Research Fellowships 

A record 13 Mines students and recent graduates received NSF Graduate Research Fellowships, one of the nation's most prestigious honors for future STEM researchers.

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A student researcher works at a microscope in a chemistry lab

Mines Selected for Beckman Scholars Program 

Colorado School of Mines was recently selected as one of 14 universities nationwide for the prestigious Beckman Scholars Program, which supports exceptional undergraduate researchers in STEM fields.

Read More

Kamil Ciesielski and students Robert Laurie and Thomas Perkins work on a VIPER program project on quantum materials

Mines VIPER Program Opens Doors to Discovery 

Through the interdisciplinary VIPER program, ceramics engineering student Rob Laurie discovered a passion for quantum materials research while working alongside faculty and students on emerging technologies. 

Read More

Mines students walk along a campus plaza walkway in the fall.

Undergraduate Research with Real-World Impact 

Through faculty mentorship, funded opportunities and hands-on projects, Mines helps students tackle real-world challenges while building skills for their future careers. 

Read More

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Undergraduate Research Resources